Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 4:39 am, the temperature is 62 degrees.

Today will be partly sunny with a high temperature in the low 70’s and a slight chance for showers. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low in the upper 40’s and a chance for showers.

Tomorrow will be cloudy with a high around 56 degrees and a 30% chance for showers.

Little River is flowing at 38.2 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 1.28 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 86 cfs. The water temperature is 59.2 degrees this morning.

Streams in the mountains are flowing very low. Most anglers who are catching trout are fishing in the broken choppy water where the trout are hiding. Staying hidden from the trout is essential to your success. Dress to blend with the forest and downsize your tippet. Trout are actively feeding. They can be caught on dry flies or nymphs. More important than fly choice right now is stealth and presentation. Get a good drift and you will catch more.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and other species in the lowland rivers is fair. The rivers are flowing low. Water temperatures are fine today. Streamers and crayfish patterns will work for sure. You might also do well using foam floating flies or poppers.

Lake fishing will be best when the sun is low or obscured by clouds. Weighted streamers or swimming nymphs fished deep and slow will likely work best for you. Try foam floating flies or poppers too, especially when the banks or cover are dimly lit.

There are some generation schedules you can work with today and fishing on a tailwater is probably a good idea. Visit the TVA website from the links below to see what tailwater fishing opportunities you have today.

Paula and I had dinner at The Abbey last night. Steve and Janice have done an excellent job remodeling and enlarging this great restaurant located right on Little River. They serve lunch, dinner, craft beer and wine. You can’t easily see The Abbey from the main highway but it is located right in the middle of town and a block toward the river next to the swinging bridge.

Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.

Byron Begley
October 14, 2023

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Parking Tags are now required to park your vehicle inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Tags may be purchased at Visitors Centers, including the center in Townsend. Or, they may be purchased online. You can buy a daily, weekly or annual tag. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com